Ross McCormack, a former captain of Leeds United, has suggested that Daniel Farke should not alter his lineup against Southampton in order to maintain the level of competition for spots in his side.
In Leeds’ 3-0 victory over Watford on Saturday, Liam Cooper entered the lineup in place of Joe Rodon, who was suspended after receiving a red card at Hull City the previous week.
This past weekend at Elland Road, Jamie Shackleton started the game as the right-back while Luke Ayling started the game on the bench.
Given the caliber of their performance against Watford, McCormack believes that Farke shouldn’t immediately re-incorporate Rodon, Ayling, or Archie Gray into the lineup against Southampton the following Saturday.
He thinks that leaving Rodon, Ayling, and Gray off the field against Southampton will keep the team’s competitive edge and that doing otherwise would send the incorrect message to the players.
During an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, the former Whites captain remarked, “If you ask me what I’d do if I were the manager, personally I won’t change a thing.
“It sends out the incorrect kind of message that these players would still be re-added to the team, even if they played their best game of the season.
To the guys who have joined the team, keeping some of your better players on the bench gives a message that if you join the team, perform well, and then you keep your place.
“That will encourage them.
Rodon and Ayling, for example, won’t likely be training the following week with the expectation of joining the team after that performance.
However, they have enough life experience to know that performance won’t happen every week.
It is uncertain if Farke will use the same starting lineup when Leeds plays Southampton on Saturday.
